Chapter 5
Disclaimer- I don't own Long Island, because I'm not Donald Trump or NYU. I do own some beer.
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Satine's eyes flew open then closed a second later as the sunlight hit them.
"Fuck."
She tried to move but something was holding her down, every inch of her body was filled with familiar pain that came from a night of drinking. More slowly this time, she opened her eyes to slits and surveyed the room through her lashes. It was small, bare and box-like. She could see her feet sticking up from beneath the blanket and beside them was an unfamiliar pair, darker than her own. Her heart was now beating uncomfortably fast. Where was she?
It took all her energy to roll over and face the man beside her. Suddenly the past nights events came flooding back to her and she winced, her head pounding. Pulling out of Christian's grasp she lay beside him on the bed, trying to decide whether she was going to get up or sleep a little longer, both options seemed unappealing. The watch on Christian's otherwise naked arm read quarter till nine.
"Fuck," she said again. Ignoring her aching head she jumped out of bed only to find herself completely naked. Frantically she tried to find her clothes, which now carpeted the floor. As she was putting her shirt on, she heard Christian moving on the bed.
"Satine?" he said softly. "Make the light go away."
"Right." she said awkwardly. Awkward because she still hadn't managed to get her shirt on properly and was stuck in an uncomfortable position. "I have to go to work, I'll call you."
"You don't know my number," he called after her, but she had already left. Confused, but too tired to think about it, Christian closed his eyes and went back to sleep.
He was awoken what felt like second later, by someone waving something in front of his face and yelling.
"Wudayawap," he mumbled.
"Sorry didn't catch that," said a voice from above. Christian opened his eyes and Audrey's face swam before him. She was, for some reason, wearing only a bikini.
"What the…"
"Don't you remember?" said Nini entering the room. "We're going to Long Island today." Seeing the blank look on his face she added "the beach."
Feeling like one who had spent the night drinking heavy liquor, not two beers, Christian dressed and met his friends down stairs where they had parked Tino's beat up car unprofessionally on the curb. Christian squeezed in the back with Satie, Henry, Audrey and several boogie boards.
As they were driving by, he spotted Satine, sitting on the ground in front of the Moulin smoking a cigarette. On his request, Tino pulled the car up so he could talk to her.
"Hey! Satine, wanna go to the beach?"
"Oh Christian I'm sorry I have to work," she said. She really looked sorry, or at least tired.
"Some other time then?"
Audrey roared with laughter as the drove away. Satine heard her and leaned back against the building wall taking a heavy drag off her cigarette. She didn't usually smoke, but then again, she didn't usually do a lot of things. The two cups of black coffee she had drunk that morning sloshed hollowly on the inside of her stomach. They had done nothing to make her feel full, only a bit more awake. She couldn't remember the last time she felt this empty.
"Satine!" Betty called from the door way. "Breaks over c'mon we need you on section three." Satine put out her cigarette on the cement and watched the smoke rise from the butt as she walked inside. "You ok?" said Betty with concern. "You don't look well."
"Fine," said Satine quickly. "Late night, you know." Betty smiled fondly.
Six hours, seventy four tables, two hundred and sixty two plates later Satine had collected her tips and headed home, her thoughts on Christian somewhere far away sunning himself on the beach.
The apartment was dark and Satine's stomach sank if possible even lower. She hadn't thought about Lucy since she left last night. She threw her purse on the couch and turned on the light. Lucy was illuminated, sitting at the table starring into space.
"You should have turned some lights on," said Satine softly. Lucy looked at her with wet eyes and ran from the room. "Lucy come back!" Satine called as she ran after her. Lucy had thrown herself on the bed and was lying silent like a dead thing. "Lucy?"
"You left," she said, her voice dull. "You left like Mama."
"No, no Lucy, it wasn't like that. I'm back, see, and I'll never leave again."
"Mama says that too."
"Mama means it, she's trying Lucy."
"Will you really never leave me again?"
"Well…" said Satine slowly. "Never on purpose."
"Promise you'll never leave me," Lucy was now sitting up right and looking at her with fire in her brown eyes.
"I can't-"
"Promise!"
Satine hesitated a second. "Alright, I promise."
Lucy's face relaxed and her eyes filled with tears.
"C'mere," said Satine, opening her arms. Lucy fell into them sobbing.
"I was so scared," she said through her tears. Eventually she wore herself out and fell asleep in Satine's arms. Satine curled up beside her sister's body, forgetting her own plight, at least for now.
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Christian leaned against the car door watching the ocean. The sun was setting over the dunes, turning the trees and brambles into black silhouettes and dying the water orange. The car smelt of brine and seaweed. Everyone was sandy and sunburned, but filled with a tired happiness. Satie and Nini were drinking beers and Audrey had fallen asleep with her arm out the window.
Satine was momentarily forgotten.
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Author's note- short chapter… shoot me. Chapter 6 is really long though. And don't you dare leave without reviewing! How else am I supposed to improve?
